After two successful domestic seasons in 2008 and 2009, Nicholls took 2010 off to do "absolutely nothing".

The West Australian returned with gusto after her year-long sabbatical, winning three world cup medals and gaining selection for her first world championship campaign.

At that regatta she came fourth in the K1 200m and fifth in the K1 500m, qualifying Australia a position in the K1 500m in London.

And after dominating the Australian selection trials earlier this year, she also qualified a K1 200m boat for the Games - confirming her selection in both events.

After completing "the hardest block of training I've ever had" in Perth, Nicholls is now in Europe putting the final touches on her Olympic campaign, knowing she is a real chance of finishing on the dais in London.

"Last year at the worlds I came close to medalling, and that hurt added fuel to the fire for this year," she said.

"Now I know I belong at this level."

So much so that she believes she can repeat what Ken Wallace did at Beijing in 2008 when he won gold for Australia in the men's K1 500m.

"That's what I want," Nicholls said. "In London, there will only be eight people in the final.

"I'm not going to line up and think 'there's an Olympic world champion to the left of me and a world champion to the right of me'.

"All I can do is try to get the one-percenters right that will get me on the podium, singing the national anthem.